It's almost midnight and I should be asleep, but apparently my brain thought it was a good idea to kick my six-month fanfiction writing slump to the curb by reawakening all the love and heartache I feel over the ending of the Infernal devices and putting it into words.

Sooo... what I'm trying to say is I probably shouldn't be posting this story, but I'm too tired to think rationally right now so it's happening anyway lol


Sixty-five years.

Sixty-five years of fighting demons and monsters and evil. Of music and kissing and midnight conversations. Of laughter and tears and love...

Sixty-five years.

How much Tessa would give for another year, another month, anything to not have to go through this again.

She had known it would happen, of course. It had been there, a constant presence at the back of her mind, sowing pain into even the most happiest moments. Because she knew this wouldn't last - that soon, Jem would leave her just like Will.

Sometimes though, on nights spent under the stars together, she would forget. In those moments, when the world sparkled in the billions of brilliant, distant lights and his fingers danced across the strings of his beloved violin, filling her head and heart and soul with music... In those moments, she was not immortal or a warlock or special in any way. No. In those moments, she simply was a woman. A woman in love with a man.

But reality had a way of coming crashing back down when you least wanted it to.

Sixty-five years she'd had with Jem.

Sixty-five beautiful, tumultuous, unforgettable years.

And now their time together was over.

"I'm afraid."

Jem's hand - Jem's gentle, warm, wrinkled hand - squeezed hers. "Don't be."

"But I am." Her eyes drifted across the intricately carved bed frame, the soft red covers… the frail body resting underneath it. "Aren't you?"

"Yes. But not for me."

Of course. Of course he would think of her first, even on his own deathbed. Tessa brought his hand to her lips, unable to speak as the tears traced her cheeks.

"I know Will will be waiting for me on the other side." Jem smiled softly. "And when life has given you all it can give and more, we'll be there waiting for you too, Tessa. Both of us."

"You might have to wait forever."

There was nothing but earnestness in his voice as he replied, "Then that's what we'll do."

For a while, neither of them spoke, simply gazing into each other's eyes. Reliving a thousand memories, a thousand memories of light and dark and in-between. A thousand memories of them.

She laid her head gently against his chest.

"I love you," she whispered. "I love you so much."

An arm curved across her shoulders. "I love you too."

Tessa stayed with him as his eyes closed. As the arm around her slackened. As the heartbeat against her cheek grew fainter and fainter.

And as his chest rose a final time, she let the tears fall once again.